HMICFRS releases inspection report on the implementation by Greater Manchester Police of iOPS

3 Mar 2020 12:14 PM

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) reports on the progress Greater Manchester Police has made in responding to issues arising from its Integrated Operational Policing System (iOPS).

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Greater Manchester Police Integrated Operational Policing System inspection

This inspection was conducted at the request of the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The focus of the Mayor’s commission was for HMICFRS to review and assess the Greater Manchester Police recovery plan to remove the backlogs and restore staff and public confidence in iOPS. The inspection work was conducted during October and November 2019.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Phil Gormley yesterday said:

“This inspection was undertaken at the request of the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester. It is not a technical appraisal of iOPS or the precursor systems. Rather, it is a review of the operational difficulties encountered following the implementation of iOPS and the Force response.

“I do not underestimate the scale or complexity of this change programme. It is clear some of the difficulties encountered were unavoidable. However, it is similarly clear there are significant lessons for the future.

“I have made a number of recommendations, which if adopted, will enable the force to address the underlying issues of system capability, working practices and staff training. I continue to monitor the situation and hope to see the force restoring staff confidence in IOPs and delivering on the ambitions and intended benefits.”

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Greater Manchester Police Integrated Operational Policing System inspection

Notes

• HMICFRS independently assesses and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in the public interest.
• In July 2019 GMP introduced a new computer system called the Integrated Operational Policing System (iOPS), this had originally been scheduled to go live in March 2018.
• There were significant problems with the performance of iOPS resulting in serious backlogs of work and a loss of staff confidence in the system. The problems with iOPS attracted negative media attention, in particular concerning fears that public and officer safety were being put at risk.
• We were asked to examine these questions:
  1. Is the force ‘sighted on’ (fully aware of) the volume and type of backlogs that have occurred?
  2. Does the force understand the threat and risk in the backlogs and is it prioritising accordingly?
  3. Does the force have a plan to reduce the backlogs and return GMP to its pre- iOPS ‘state’?
  4. Is the force effectively engaging with external partners and keeping them informed?
  5. Does the force have a robust plan to support its officers and staff and build their confidence in iOPS?
  6. Does the force have an effective plan in place to prevent further backlogs occurring?
• It was not within the scope of our inspection to review:
  1. the programme management preceding the introduction of iOPS; or
  2. the functionality of iOPS as an ICT system.